O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Issue #23

Why did our Sounds editor leave her hometown paradise for the Midwest?

By Kristina Francisco
Published: March 1st, 2005 | 4:25pm

I was born and raised in Hawai‘i, a place romanticized by many for its sandy white beaches, crystal-blue waters, and swaying palm trees. And for the 18 years that I lived there, I didn't realize how truly awesome it all was. Driving down the street with the Pacific on one side and lush green mountains on the other was all I knew. A rainbow stretching across the sky after it rained was a common occurrence. The year-round 80-degree weather was a way of life (when it got down to 70 degrees, I would put on a sweat shirt).

Since I left for the mainland five years ago for college, I’ve only been back to the Aloha State a handful of times. I’ve chosen to start my adult life in Chicago — what seems like the flattest place on earth — where it gets dark by 5 p.m. for, like, half the year. When I do go home, I appreciate all the things I once took for granted and realize how much I really, really miss it.

My hometown: I grew up in Waipahu, a town on O‘ahu, the island known as the Gathering Isle and where Honolulu and Waikiki are located. Waipahu is dominated by Filipinos (like me), the dirt is red for some reason, and neighbors a town called Aiea, the only town in the United States spelled entirely with vowels.

The culture: The people in Hawai‘i are friendly and full of the much-touted “aloha” spirit. They smile, they care, they love the land and the water.

The language: You may have noticed that Hawai‘i is spelled with what looks like a backward apostrophe. That’s called an ‘okina, sometimes found between two vowels, and is a break in speech. The “w” in Hawai‘i is pronounced as a “v.” And, fun fact: There are only 13 letters in the Hawai‘ian alphabet.

The state fish: The Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a.

The last monarch: Queen Liliuokalani was deposed by a party of rich folks, led by Sanford Dole, who wanted to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy and establish a Republic of Hawai‘i. She was placed under house arrest in her own palace in 1895. In 1898, Hawai‘i was annexed by the United States. Hawai‘i didn’t become the 50th state until 1959, 18 years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The industry: Hawai‘i used to thrive on the sugar cane and pineapple industries, but many fields now have townhouses and subdivisions built on them. Tourism is now Hawai‘i’s big moneymaker — you don’t even need a passport to get to paradise.

Local grinds: On Oah‘u, you’ll see a Zippy’s every mile or so. Famous for its chili, it’s a fast-food place with good food, tasty fish specials every day, small bentos (box lunches), and an extensive bakery. Some other lunch stops to try: Kua‘aina for burgers, and Kaka‘ako Kitchen or L & L Drive-In for plate lunches. Snacks? Get some mochi ice cream from Bubbies or malasadas (puffy dough balls) from Leonard’s Bakery.

Take a hike: Go on the long and winding trail to the top of Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge where you can see both sides of the island and neighboring Moloka‘i in the distance, or look for the trails in Nu‘u‘anu that’ll lead you to the swimming hole or a waterfall.

Beaches: Skip the overpopulated Waikiki beach and head to the North Shore, home to Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay, where you can jump off a big rock and into the ocean when conditions allow. (Don’t go surfing on the North Shore because locals and die-hards are protective of it — have you seen Blue Crush?) Other good choices are Waimanalo Beach, Kailua Beach Park, and Lanikai (if you can find it).

Random facts: Ramen — the noodles we all ate in college — is commonly referred to as “saimin.” Flip-flops are called “slippers.” Billboards are illegal. Not everyone from Hawai‘i is Hawaiian. People from Hawai‘i are known as locals. Pineapples grow in fields, not on trees.